“In Melky’s case, I think I said in the New York Times article, recently in June, they asked me about him, that when we traded him we had him as (a) low-end, every-day regular or an excellent fourth outfielder,” Cashman said. “And that shows where we thought his ceiling was. As you know, he was starting for us in the World Series, but we had him as a low-end, every-day guy, not a National League MVP candidate. So I wasn’t surprised.”

Because I’m usually really good at evaluating talent, you know.

“You see some spike in performance, you know,” Cashman said. “You hope it is not the case. You scratch your head and you wonder at the same time. But then you sit there and get a comfort level. Tests are taking place, but then over time when those tests fail, like they did. I think whenever you see someone, in Bartolo’s case, as well as he has done last year and then, as well, coming back this year, at his age, after coming back from this surgery, makes you scratch your head.”

Considering how many Yankees have experienced performance spikes and seemingly defied usual aging patterns, it’s no wonder Cashman spends so much time scratching his head.

Jeter has been an elite player for most of his career. He is having a good year but this can’t remotely be compared to a Bonds-like spike in numbers. His OPS this year is lower than his career OPS! So come up with some evidence beyond a decent batting average or stop throwing around slanderous accusations.

Melky and Colon have mostly been mediocre. It’s absolutely disgusting that PED speculation (by idiots) needs to arise whenever a veteran star has a good season.

Why do people assume that there needs to be a “Bonds-like spike in numbers” if a player is taking some sort of PED. Not every PED is the same. They don’t all increase strength, per se.

I do agree with you, however, that an advanced aged veteran is not automatically indicative of PED usage. In Jeter’s case, he is doing nothing this season in terms of performance that he hasn’t done in years before. People are pointing to his HR total (ok, Bayless did), which is ludicrous as HR’s are up all around the game, due to a number of factors . . . not the least of which has been the warmer weather.

I’m not one who thinks Jeter is juicing, but he has every right to throw around as many slanderous accusations as he wants. It’s what the media was either too stupid or too scared to do in 1998. I was a 14 year old Cub fan in 98 and I knew THEN that they were on steroids and every time Sosa came up I was praying for a double.

Do I think Jeter is juicing? No. But there are players who I have no doubt in my mind are using. “Oh but you can’t say that if you don’t have proof” Watch me. Jose Bautista is absolutely on steroids.

bigleagues, you don’t have to have a “Bonds-like spike in numbers” to be accused of PEDs, that’s for sure. All I ask is that anyone accusing anyone else of wrongdoing has some form of evidence. Mere conjecture is nothing more than bullshit.

Yes, That’s the guy. He was soft and out of shape as a Yank. Part of the reason they didn’t sign him was because they didn’t trust his back. Now? He’s ripped. Looks like a different guy. Sound familiar?

Ben - Aug 28, 2012 at 9:33 PM

I really would be genuinely curious to know what teams know, or what they suspect about their own players, and how that’s discussed internally.

I would guess that they know it all and Cashman’s statement about not being surprised is directly related to the reason why they let Bartolo move on. There is not a GM, manager, teammate, or owner in this league that isn’t involved, be it passively or actively, in the proliferation of the steroid culture.

I think that’s probably true, although I think I’d probably be more equivocal. The Giants, for example, have a vested interest in not having one of their stars test positive during a playoff drive, so I wonder how that involvement, active or passive, manifests itself.

paperlions - Aug 28, 2012 at 9:33 PM

Yeah, well, they cut Carlos Pena loose, so they must have thought we wasn’t an MLB player and he seems to have had a nice career. Is Cashman saying that every time a player out performs your evaluation he must be using PEDs? Because that’s pretty lame/stupid/irresponsible/dumb.

I wonder what he thinks about Jose Bautista. The league should take notice of what Victor Conte said last week instead of blowing him off like he’s just a disgruntled bomb thrower. That’s what everybody used to say about Jose Canseco….

Other than Granderson (who became more of a power hitter after K-Long tweaked his swing) who on the Yankees has experienced a spike in performance? And Jeter is having a renaissance year, but still only worth 2.0 fWAR. Hits waaay too many ground balls, but has a relatively high BABIP (almost .350.)

Started hitting a ton this season, then succumbed to a PED-type injury. So yeah, definitely on roids. Totally makes sense.

teaspoon1731 - Aug 29, 2012 at 1:18 AM

#1 you dont get smaller on roids (please see bonds and mcguire at the beginning and ends of their careers)
#2 he’s a DH, he usually hits tons. he’s not some bench player who never hits for power.
#3 he’s 36 and has an achilles injury. flexibility decreases with age making everyone more prone to this sort of injury.
#4 why do i bother trying to speak logic to haters?

Says the SF Giants fans whose GM got suckered into trading for that PED taking former Yankee reject Cabrera. Cashman is certainly a better talent evaluator than your team’s GM, given that he has consistently brought in low budget players to fill out his roster, players that have been very productive for the Yankees over the last several years.

Right, I’m truly blown away by all that great starting pitching Cashman has spotted and developed over the past 15 years.

The only title the man’s won since 2000 (after which most of the players he inherited had left) was in 2009 after his baseball acumen (and half a billion dollars) brought in Sabathia, Burnett and Texeira.

And suckered? The Giants dumped their worst starting pitcher in the trade and the guy has barely been hears from since

One more title than most other GMs in that same time span…and no different than the Red Sox buying their only two titles in the last 100 years. Cashman has accomplished more than your sorry armchair ass ever will in your miserable life.

Cashman’s comments about performance spikes speaks directly to the Ryan Braun case and his innocence. Braun had been building toward a MVP award for years. This year he leads the NL in HR and RBI and may win another MVP.

After conferring with former Yankee world series share recipient Brian McNamee, Cashman stated that he was not surprised by the results of these two former Yankees. He had no comment on current Yankees Alex Rodriguez or Andy Pettitte nor did he care to opine on former Yankees Roger Clemens, Chad Curtis, Chuck Knoblauch, Jason Grimsley, Jose Canseco and Jason Giambi.

If ARod and Petitte are on the juice then Cashman needs to find them a better supplier. Both have been on the DL for months this year. And ARod is now a .270 hitter with occasional power. Maybe Melke’s guy could help out.

To the guy that said Colon was overall mediocre, you need to reevaluate, dude threw smoke back in the early 2000s, Cy Young winner, strikeout leader, etc….Melky yes, nothing more than a 4th outfielder.

Half my gym uses roids, the other half has switched to HGH because their doctor told them their kidneys and /or liver was getting ready to shut down. Roids guys get massive, when they changed to HGH, they get smaller, but ripped and don’t lose much strength.I’m on juice, orange juice, grape juice, carrot juice, celery juice, etc.No whey power, the price is gotten too high.

Pouliot, why don’t you grow a pair, and just come out and accuse players by name?
Stupid suppositions, innuendos and veiled references without proof a douche bag do make.
Now come over here and get fitted for your new nozzle bag-boy.

tbk201: “Right, I’m truly blown away by all that great starting pitching Cashman has spotted and developed over the past 15 years…..” Your jealousy is crippling your brain. Try counting the number of WS appearances and division championships in those 15 years and compare them to the performance of whatever flea-bag team you support. Instead of grabbing the money for a short gain the Yankees owners have put it back into the team and the fans have responded by showing up. The team and YES are now worth about $4 Billion. The owner of your team probably has used any success in selling tickets to buy a yacht or a house in Aspen and is now looking for buyers for the team so he can pay off his loans. You don’r buy championships and fan loyalty, you earn them.

Jealous of what? I’m actually a Giants fan and, despite previous issues with Sabean over the years and not as much post-season success, I am content that the 2010 World Series championship was accomplished on the backs of a homegrown pitching staff, stud catcher and closer.

And since when were world series appearances and playoff appearances acceptable to Yankee fans? I thought it was World Series titles or bust?

All fans are fickle when it comes to attendance, I remember the old Yankee Stadium being half-full in the late 80s/early 90s when the team stunk. And when the baby Steinbrenner induced austerity kicks in and the Yankees aren’t winning as much, see how many fans actually stick around.

As to money being put back into the franchise, the Giants are trying out every ridiculous promotion they can think of to put money back into the franchise. They do this mostly to service the debt on their privately built stadium. Perhaps if the Giants had fleeced the taxpayers of $1.5 billion for their ballpark, they would have more money available. So it goes.